" is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we, the fpirit of truth, and the spirit of error *." "Out of the abundance of the heart (obferves "our blessed Saviour) the mouth fpeaketh +;" and daily experience verifies the affertion. Whatever a man's purfuit may be, you can scarcely fail to learn it from his converfation, in the hours of focial intercourse. This we continually fee to be the cafe, in the followers both of particular diverfions and profeffions; and a regard for politenefs is often in fufficient to reftrain them from fuch difcourse, as they muft know, if they reflect, cannot be interesting to others. And, what is fo common, as to hear converfation on fubjects relating to "the "luft of the flesh, the luft of the eyes, and the "pride of life." The earthly pleasures, riches, or honours, either of themselves, or of their neighbours, feem to engage the attention nearly of all. Speak to mankind in general of the things of God, and what a deaf ear will they immediately turn: how will every mouth be closed: what a cloud will immediately fpread itfelf over every brow! Are not fuch fubjects banifhed by a kind of common confent, fo that, (oh, ftrange to tell!) in a land profeffing chriftianity, it is deemed unpolite. to introduce them? The fubject of cards and horfes, dogs and guns, may be continually obtruded on thofe perfons, who are neither gamefters, nor fportfmen. The minutiae of law and phyfic may be difcuffed before perfons who scarcely know the difference between a prescription and a brief. The whole process of husbandry and 1 Johniv. 4, 5, 6. † Mat. xii. 34. manu manufactures, of battles and fieges by fea and land, though" twice told tales, may vex the ears "of a drowfy man; but religion, which is in reality ever one's most important concern, muft never be brought forward. This would argue a great want of good-breeding. It may, if lowered, and rendered palatable, be borne with, once a week, from the pulpit; but, at the table, or in the ufual intercourfe of life, it would be infufferable. And yet, furely the words of the apoftle have an appropriate meaning now, as well as when they were written: "He that is of God heareth us; he "that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know "we the fpirit of truth, and the fpirit of error." Oh! my dear friends," examine yourselves" carefully by this mark, "whether ye be in the faith." The tongue, when all reftraint is removed, will be found a certain index to the heart. It is fo refpecting all other things; and it is fo likewife with regard to religion. But, we may clearly difcover from their actions, as well as from their words, what are the general purfuits of mankind. Look around you, my friends. Do you not fee fome with their whole heart and foul engaged in earthly pleasures? "Come on (fay they) let us enjoy the good "things that are prefent; and let us speedily* "ufe the creatures, like as in youth! Let us fill "ourselves with coftly wine, and ointments: and "let no flower of the fpring pafs by us! Let us "crown ourselves with rofe-buds, before they be withered. Or "earne ftly," Margin of Dr. Blayney's Bible. "withered! Let none of us go without his part of "our voluptuoufnefs. Let us leave tokens of our "joy; in every place! For, this is our portion, "and our lot is this *." And, let us confider, Is not this the cafe with very many perfons, in all ranks and stations of life, according to the means which they have of procuring fuch enjoyments? Are there not "banquettings, drunkennefs, revel«lings, and fuch like t," frequently among the pooreft; and do not many of these lament their poverty chiefly as it debars them from a greater number of thefe fenfual indulgences? Is it not a well known maxim, that, if you wish to gain their hearts, you must feed them to a furfeit, and fill them with ftrong drink, until all their fenfes are either inflamed to madnefs, or funk into worse than bestial insensibility? Do not thofe elections, where popular favour is moft eagerly fought, fufficiently evidence this? And is not the very fame principle general in all orders of fociety? If the favour of mankind the great bulk be fought, of whatever clafs, the ready mode of obtaining it is to feaft them. Approach them through their palates. Afford them plenty of the delicacies of the table. Let "the harp, and the viol, the tabret and pipe, "be in your feafts." This is the way to gain their affection. But, as you value their favour, not a word of religion. "They regard not the work of the Lord, neither confider the operation of his hands t." You must pursue the maxims of Chef terfield, Wifdem ii. 6, to 10. 1 Pet. iv 3. Gal. v. 21, terfield and Rochefoucault, not thofe of the Bible, if you are anxious to gain their love and good word. Why are our theatres and dances, from the metropolis to our country villages, crowded beyond measure, while our places of worfhip are comparatively deferted? Why are thole which were formerly confidered as HOLY DAYS, and still retain their name, now generally perverted into feafons of fenfuality and riot? How happens it, that the Sabbath has fuch extreme difficulty in maintaining its ground, even with any tolerable degree of decency? Why, among the lower claffes, is the Sunday dinner fo much more punctually attended to, than the Sunday fermon*? And, among the higher orders, if the card-table, that never-failing refource, be not called in, as on the other days, to beguile its horrors, do we not hear a journey, a few vifits, or company at home, with perhaps a mufical party, ftrenuously defended, for the fake of helping forward the tedious hours? Thus speak and act the men of this world, the "lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God t." But, is the love of earthly riches lefs prevalent than of earthly pleafures? Do we not frequently hear thefe called "the main chance ;" and, almoft blafphemously," the one thing needful ?" Have not the inhabitants of our island, particularly of our large towns and cities, been justly reprefented, "occupying * The reader will find this fubject well reprefented by. Dr. Johnson, in the 30th Number of the Rambler. + 2 Tim. i. 4. "occupying their whole mornings in acquiring riches, as they do their evenings in fpending "them?" Do not avarice and fenfuality, with many, as it were, go hand in hand? Is the character given of the Roman confpirator "covet"ous of the poffeffions of others, profufe of his "own," at all uncommon in these latter days* ? Idwell not now on those wretched flaves of inammon, whose whole hearts and fouls are occupied by their riches. Thefe, I know, are generally pointed at, and condemned. I would rather direct your attention to that more common and infidious kind of covetoufnefs, by which many are ftriv. ing to ama fs riches, as far as they can, confiftently with other favourite purfuits, and their character in the world. Thefe men commonly think themfelves liberal, and fo they are, to them felves, and perhaps to their families, as a part of themfelves.. Nay! fhould any particular object be to be gained, or end to be answered, whether of fenfual gratification, avarice, or ambition, they will fometimes be what is called liberal to a whole neighbourhood. Still, in the fight of God, they are covetous; and their "covetoufnefs is idolatry +." Their love of money is the root of all evil ‡," Scarcely inferior in its operation to either of the above is the pride of life," which thews itfelf in the projects of ambition, and the defire of fuperiority and diftinction. Do not imagine, my friends, G "Alieni appetens, fui profufus." Chara&er of Catiline, by Salluft, in his " Bellum Catilinarum," near the beginning. + Col. iii. 5. 1 Tim. vi. 1o. |